Students of Accra Technical University displayed an impressive mix of food, fashion, cosmetics and household products as they put their entrepreneurial ideas to the test at the University’s Product Development Exhibition on Friday, August 21, 2026 at the forecourt of the University Auditorium
From sobolo, soya milk, pastries, shito and smoothies to plantain chips, baobab powder, liquid soap, cosmetics, clothing and beads, the exhibition gave students the opportunity to turn ideas developed in the classroom into products they could package, promote and sell to real customers.
The programme brought together students from different academic areas, including Fashion Design and Textiles, Hotel Catering and Institutional Management, and Interior Design and Upholstery Technology.
The exhibition formed part of the requirements for Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, a course designed to develop creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset among students. It was organised under the auspices of the University’s Entrepreneurial Working Committee, established in 2014 through Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).
Developing the products was only one part of the exercise for the students. They began by developing business ideas, writing proposals and business plans before moving to the practical stage of executing those ideas and presenting the final products at the exhibition.
Coordinator of the Entrepreneurial Working Committee, Prof. Collins Owusu Kwaning, expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm shown by the students, particularly their ability to apply what they had learnt in class.
He explained that the students were given responsibility for organising the exhibition, including reaching out to stakeholders and potential partners. This allowed them to experience some of the practical demands that come with running a business or organising a commercial activity.
Their marketing and communication skills were also put to work as they had to attract people to their stands, explain their products and convince potential customers to buy.
Another important part of the exercise was teamwork. Students worked in groups, allowing them to combine ideas, skills and resources while learning how partnerships can support the creation of new businesses.
“We put the students in groups for collaboration and teamwork, where students pool resources, which is essential in our part of the world where getting capital to start a business becomes challenging sometimes,” Prof. Kwaning explained.
He said the Committee remains committed to practical and competency-based entrepreneurship training that can prepare students to create businesses and employment opportunities after graduation.
Prof. Kwaning was particularly impressed with the students’ attention to value addition, packaging, product presentation and branding, areas he believes are important in turning a good idea into a product that can compete on the market.
He disclosed that the Committee intends to identify promising student products and support them through the formal registration process. Where applicable, assistance would also be provided towards meeting regulatory requirements with the Food and Drugs Authority.
The ambition is to help promising ideas developed through the course move closer to becoming actual businesses.
For students who began the semester with business ideas on paper, the exhibition provided a practical test of those ideas, developing a product, working with others, packaging it, communicating its value and finding someone willing to buy it.
And for the University’s entrepreneurship programme, the colourful collection of products on display offered a glimpse of what can happen when students are given room to create, experiment and put their ideas to work.
News gallery can be accessed here https://publicaffairsdirectorate11.pixieset.com/studentsentrepreneurshipproductexhibition/